Amazonian task for Hallaton's answer to Crocodile Dundee
MOST of us like to try new experiences when taking a trip abroad.
But how about facing deadly snakes and venomous spiders on a daily basis, walking through cocaine fields, eating piranha fish to stave off starvation and being chased down a river by gun-toting tribesmen?
No, it's not the plot of the next Indiana Jones film, but just some of the dangers Hallaton man Ed Stafford has experienced so far on his incredible 4,250-mile trek along the length of the Amazon River.
The 34-year-old ex-army captain set off on the mammoth adventure back in April 2008 and, more than 750 days in, is currently in Brazil having trekked thousands of miles from the river's source in Peru.
Mr Stafford, who grew up in Mowsley, served in Northern Ireland while in the forces and, after retiring in 2002, took on a job leading expeditions to jungles in Patagonia, Borneo and Belize.
The keen rugby player, who has competed in the Hallaton Bottle Kicking event and who used to drink at The Bewicke Arms in Hallaton, organised the Amazon expedition in a bid to raise awareness of deforestation as well as the complexities of life on the Amazon River.
He set off on April 2, 2008, with his friend Luke Collyer but unfortunately the pair fell out only three months into the expedition and Mr Collyer returned to Britain.
Undeterred, Mr Stafford continued on with a series of guides in a bid to be the first man to walk the full length of the river.
Four months into his expedition Mr Stafford was lucky enough to come across a fearless Peruvian forestry worker called Gadiel Sanchez Rivera, nicknamed Cho, who agreed to walk with him for a few weeks.
The pair have been inseparable ever since.
Mr Stafford, speaking via the internet-based voice call service Skype, said: "Cho was a godsend because I had almost given up on finding a guide and was preparing to walk alone. Very scary. I had real problems finding someone brave enough to walk with me – people are terrified to enter the area because of the drug-trafficking and the fiercely defensive native Indians.
"Cho had experience of working amongst the indigenous people. His employer, a timber company, used to send him as a scout to look for areas of forest with lots of hardwoods. He's pretty fearless."
Cho said: "When my brother told me there was a gringo who wanted to become famous by walking through the River Ene I knew that I could help him. I enjoyed walking with Ed. I'd only committed to one month to start with, but little by little I committed to more and more before in the end I wanted to complete the walk as much as Ed."
Together the pair have faced dangers and excitement on an almost daily basis.
In September last year they were forced to live on a diet of piranha as they faced starvation while walking through a remote area of jungle in the Manaus area of Brazil.
On another occasion the pair were held on suspicion of murder by the security chief of a Peruvian village after their arrival coincided with the disappearance of a villager.
Held for more than 24 hours, the innocent pair were eventually released, but not before having to pay the head of security for 'all the help they had provided'.
At other times they have been chased out of villages by tribes who are fearful of their intentions.
Mr Stafford said: "Cho's a very honest and loyal employee who has become a good friend. We have been through a lot together now and there is a mutual respect definitely. The reason our relationship is different and strong is because I have seen him for over 12 hours of virtually every day for the last 20 months."
Despite their vastly different backgrounds, the pair get on very well.
Cho said: "We understand each other and tease and mock each other constantly. I love to laugh and Ed enjoys the banter too."
As well as raising awareness of the impact of deforestation on the environment, Mr Stafford is trying to raise money for Rainforest Concern, the Action for Brazil's Children (ABC) Trust, Project Peru, Cancer Research UK and the ME Association.
The duo continue to walk and wade the river, day after day, and expect to finish their epic walk in August this year.
By the end of the expedition Mr Stafford estimates that he will have covered 6,000 miles due to flooding, which has pushed him further inland than he would have hoped.
To follow Mr Stafford's incredible journey, visit the website www.walkingtheamazon.com.
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Friday 18 May 2012
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